All the hassle of getting through one security checkpoint after another pays dividends, I suppose. And you can be sure that getting through to the convention center was onerous... a bunch of us spent TWO nights at the Post-Gazette sleeping on cots so we could be sure to get to our assigned spots the next day.
Here is a photo of our newsroom on Thursday night as protests started to ratchet up and calls started coming in from reporters who'd been pepper sprayed in the protests.
(you can dimly make out photog Larry Roberts, exec. editor David Shribman, asst mng editor Virginia Linn, G20 coverage coordinator extraordinaire Lillian Thomas and managing editor Sue Smith).
It was like camping out, kind of fun, but walking up to the Mellon Arena at the crack of dawn each morning from the newspaper, toting laptops, was fairly challenging. And Downtown did NOT look its best, by any stretch... a ghost town,post-apocalyptic... but Pittsburgh's civic boosters needn't worry, these world leaders were in a bubble the whole time, escorted from one lovely Pittsburgh spot to the other, seeing our BEST self, not this weirdly deserted Downtown. The Phipps, in particular, looked ravishing at night all lit up from within. I hope some photographs eventually emerge of that dinner... I would love to see what it looked like. Here's a photo of the press gaggle, with my former Post-Gazette colleague, Pulitzer Prize winning photographer Martha Rial, in the purple shirt in the foreground:
Most surreal moment: Sitting inside the security "bubble" at the outdoor Phipps entry, during a lull between leaders arriving, all quiet... across the road, Schenley Park's Flagstaff Hill looked eerily, uncharacteristically deserted. Then someone in the press pool remarked they heard some faint shouting. I logged onto the Post Gazette website and saw this headline: "Police battle protesters in Bloomfield"... apparently near Ritter's Diner. That's a headline I never thought I'd see in my lifetime. Apparently the faint shouting was from somewhere near Schenley Park where students and protesters were gathering for what would turn out to be a wild Thursday night... but you wouldn't have known it from where I sat.
Here's a photo of the risers BEFORE things got going... to the left is the small entryway where the Obamas would greet guests:
I will always remember the nearly two hours spent Thursday evening in close quarters "with" the President and First Lady in the Phipps' outside foyer as they greeted foreign leaders, who just kept coming, in wave after wave.... I guess I was the U.S. print press pooler (didn't see any other print reporters although some may have been there) along with hundreds of camera crews and photogs from all over the world. We were jammed on a small three-step riser probably 30 feet from the First Couple, in this very intimate space. Sometimes it spattered raindrops, and when it started raining steadily State Department aides handed out black garbage bags to us in the risers... so I ended up sometimes filing reports wearing a black garbage bag over my head!
The First Couple joked and interacted with aides AND with us, the disheveled media gaggle... UNBELIEVABLE!!! Carla Bruni Sarkozy was ALSO quite a piece of work...vamping with Obama, who did a little "samba" when he walked over towards her... you could tell he was quite taken. Carla is simply the slinkiest thing -- so gorgeous and SHE KNOWS IT. When she walked out of the reception, sans husband, heading to Teresa Heinz's dinner, she looked over at the (mostly male) press pool and batted her eyelashes. "Bon soir, M'sieur," she cooed at one photographer and kept on walking, her hips swaying like she was on the runway at New York's Fashion Week. PULEEZE....
A grizzled photographer standing near me squinted at her as she sashayed away. "SHEE..it!" he said, in clear admiration.
Fashion note: photos did not do Michelle's dress (Thakoon) justice. It was the most shimmery, delicious thing... gorgeous against her skin. I also loved inspecting all the fabulous clothes worn by the 20 and 30-something women who obviously have Very Cool Jobs at the State Department and the White House. I was particularly struck by one woman, a State Department official, who I later learned is from Kazakhstan (sp?) but looked like a Japanese princess: tall, pale, exquisite, wearing this silk jacket in some indescribable pattern... she announced all the guests as they arrived.
Ahem, I was wearing a very nice gray print Banana Republic wrap dress I bought there a month ago. This photo taken by a cute BBC cameraman, before everyone arrived:
But my poor little Diane Von Furstenberg-esque dress didn't stand a chance against Prada or Thakoon or Dries van Noten... and I was definitely having a Bad Hair Day, but... um... I don't think anyone noticed.
Most of the fashion worn by the female journalists at the G20 was severe and gray. Not much in the way of stilettos or J.Crew, which seems to be the uniform of the young female White House staffers.. Even Michelle Obama's social secretary, the uber-chic Desiree Rogers, went with the program (altho this photo I snapped of her at CAPA school doesn't show her leapard print stilletos!)
Menswear, in gray flannel, is very big, even on beautiful women with long hair chattering away in languagesE I didn't always recognize... Although I was washing my hands in the ladies room when one reporter's cell phone rang. "Oui?" she said, when she picked up. LOVED that.
Finally, here's a picture that shows the "darker" side of the G20... note the banner on the Hilton Hotel, "Pittsburgh Welcomes The World"...
and the police in the foreground. Here's
a story by my esteemed PG colleague Lillian Thomas that sums up the disconnect... between the excitement of the event and the street violence that erupted.
If you want more good dish, tune in to my "Omnivore" webcast next week on our
PGPlus site (premium PG content, subscription: $2.99 a month) where I'll do an IN DEPTH analysis of our video of Carla Bruni Sarkozy and what it all means (I told you "Omnivore" is smart AND shallow)... along with an interview with my PG colleague, columnist Brian O'Neill, who has just written
a gem of a book, "The Paris of Appalachia."
Okay, for those who STILL haven't had enough of this, here are my WHite House pool reports. Then I will stop, I promise.
-----Original Message-----
From: bounce-734760-2242769@list.whitehouse.gov on behalf of White House Media Affairs Office
Sent: Thu 9/24/2009 6:14 PM
To: Mackenzie Carpenter
Cc:
Subject: Fw: PA Pool report #1
President Barack Obama and his wife Michelle arrived at Phipps Conservatory at 6:05 p.m. in a light rain. An aide sheltered the couple with an umbrella. Mr. Obama nodded to photographers and thanked an aide in the doorway before walking through the conservatory's lower entrance.
-----Original Message-----
From: bounce-734761-2242769@list.whitehouse.gov on behalf of White House Media Affairs Office
Sent: Thu 9/24/2009 6:34 PM
To: Mackenzie Carpenter
Cc:
Subject: Fw: Pool Report #2
After backing up under the Phipps' entrance canopy to avoid the spattering rain, Mr. Obama could be heard saying, "Not bad, how you been? I'm with my first lady." Mr. Obama was in a dark blue suit. Michelle Obama was wearing a long pearl necklace and a Grecian-style draped dress in a beige and pink print, with spaghetti straps.
First to arrive was Allegheny County Executive Dan Onorato and his wife Shelley. Mr. Obama greeted them by saying, "Dan, how are you, thanks for welcoming us, good to see you... my wife Michelle." The foursome posed for photographs, and Michelle put her arm around Mrs. Onorato at one point and made conversation with her.
At one point the rain intensified so Mr. Obama went inside the entrance, but called out to the press: "Sorry about how all you guys are waiting in the rain."
While waiting for the dignitaries to arrive, Mrs. Obama turned to the press and said, "Somebody talk, somebody sing!" Mr. Obama started joking with with aides about their singing abilities.
Around 6:18, Mayor Luke Ravenstahl arrived with his wife. Mr. Obama called out, "How are you? How about those Steelers, Man? " Mr. Ravenstahl could be heard saying, "How are you Mr. President?
They were followed by U.S. Rep. Mike Doyle, the finance minister for the Republic of Singabpore, the chair of the Commission of the African Union, the managing director of the International Monetary Fund and other finance officials.
Pool Report #3
Following the arrivals of Thailand's head of state and Sweden's prime minister, Mr. Obama greeted Canada's prime minister, Stephen Harper, and his wife. Mrs. Harper could be heard chatting about her daughter with Mrs. Obama. A few minutes later (6:44 pm?) Italy's prime minister, Silvio Berlusconi, arrived alone and posed for the cameras with Mr. Obama (but not Michelle Obama).
Pool Report #4
Mrs. Obama's dress was designed by Thakoon Panichgul, who outfitted Mrs Obama for the final night of the Democratic National Convention and the first debate between Barack Obama and John McCain. She has a J.Crew cardigan, but she's not wearing it at this time. Robert Zoeller, president of the World Bank, has just arrived, posed for photographs and engaged in a quiet conversation with the Obamas before heading inside. South African President Jacob Zuma and his wife have just arrived. Mrs. Obama just took Mrs. Zuma by the hand to pose for photographs separately. Your press pooler could hear Mrs. Obama say "I'm very honored," when she shook Mr. Zuma's hand.
Pool Report #5
After greeting the head of the governments of Spain, The Netherlands, and Ethiopa, the Obamas greeted German Prime Minister Angela Merkel, who arrived alone, shortly after 7 p.m. Mrs. Obama greeted the prime minister with a kiss on both cheeks. They posed for pictures, and there was apparently some joking between the Obamas and the prime minister at the doorway before Mrs. Merkel went inside. She was followed by India's prime minister Manmohan Singh and his wife, Mrs. Gursharan Kaur, clad in a brilliant orange sari.
Prime Minister Kevin Rudd arrived at around 7:10 p.m. with his wife, Ms. Therese Rein, followed by the Prime Minister of Turkey Recep Tayyip Erdgogan and his wife, Emine Erdogan. At 7:12 p.m., British Prime Minister Gordon Brown and his wife Sarah. Mrs. Obama and Mrs. Brown had a warm conversation while Mr. Brown and Mr. Obama posed for photographs.
From: bounce-734797-2242769@list.whitehouse.gov on behalf of White House Media Affairs Office
Sent: Thu 9/24/2009 7:34 PM
To: Mackenzie Carpenter
Cc:
Subject: Fw: PA Pool #7
Your press pooler's numbered reports are getting a bit mixed up due to the steady stream of foreign dignitaries who are arriving. My apologies.
Darkness is beginning to fall around the Phipps Conservatory, but the rain seems to have held off, at least temporarily. The Korean President Lee Myung Bak and his wife, in cream satin robes, were greeted by the Obamas, who then went inside the Phipps, coming outside again shortly afterwards to greet Argentina's President Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner, followed by the head of Indonesia's government and immediately after that, French President Nicolas Sarkozy and his wife, Carla, who was dressed in simple dark blue (or black ?)sheath. The couples engaged in conversation, with Mr. Obama walking over to Mrs. Sarkozy, asking if she was well. Mrs. Sarkozy laughed and motioned to Mrs. Obama and said, "we're having a good time tomorrow," in apparent reference to Mrs. Obama's tour of Pittsburgh's Creative and Performing Arts High School tomorrow morning with the spouses of the summit's leaders. Mrs. Sarkozy then gave Mr. Obama two air kisses on each cheek before she ented inside the Phipps. Mexico's president Felix Calderon Hinojosa arrived shortly after that.
Mr. and Mrs. Obama greeted China's President Hu Jintao, who arrived shortly after 7:35. Mr. Obama could be heard saying, "Thank you so much, it's good to see you." Mr. Jintao gave a hearty wave to the press corps before going inside. China's president was immediately followed by Pennsylvania governor Ed Rendell (who I suspect may have been late -- Mr. Rendell could be heard mentioning that he'd been at a memorial service).
Russian President Dmitri Medvedev and his wife Svetlana, arrived at around 7:40 p.m. Not much conversation once they arrived with the Obamas at the Phipps entry, but there was some laughing and joking between Mrs. Obama and Mr. Medvedev before the Medvedevs went inside. They were followed a few minutes later by Brazil's president Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva and his wife Marisa Leticia.
Mr. Obama's aide, Reggie Love, at one point walked outside the building and was joking with reporters. Something dropped on a secret service agent's head form the balcony above, where there are photographers. The agent said something into his sleeve, but the incident appears to have been shrugged off.
At 7:52, Japan's Prime Minister, Yukio Hatoyama and his wife arrived, Mr. Obama thanked the press corps, and the two couples went inside for the evening's reception. Your pool has nonetheless been asked to wait until the spouses of the world leaders depart from the Phipps for dinner at Teresa Heinz's farm Rosemont, in Fox Chapel.
Please note: an earlier press pool report mistakenly identified Angela Merkel as Germany's prime minister. She is Germany's CHANCELLOR.
Message-----
From: bounce-735229-2242769@list.whitehouse.gov on behalf of White House Media Affairs Office
Sent: Fri 9/25/2009 1:10 PM
To: Mackenzie Carpenter
Cc:
Subject: FW: PA pool report CAPA
Shortly after 10 am., the wives of the G20 summit's 20 leaders arrived at Pittsburgh's Creative and Performing Arts High School, a colorful, modern, multi-story building along the city's Allegheny River just a few steps from the David L. Lawrence Convention Center. Other spouses from various international organizations were included too, including those from United Nations, ASEAN, World Bank, etc.
After being greeted by First Lady Michelle Obama, they were broken up into five groups, visiting two different classes that represent the school's program, which offers six different majors: visual arts, literary arts, theater, instrumental music, vocal music and dance. Each group was accompanied by a teacher and a student from CAPA who was on hand to explain what they were seeing.
Mrs. Obama's group included Marisa Leticia da Silva, wife of Brazil President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, and Carla Bruni Sarkozy, wife of France's president, Nicolas Sarkozy. They were guided by Jackie Hale, a teacher, and CAPA student Laneece Patterson, visiting a ballet studio and the high school's orchestra room. The total visit took about 20 minutes.
Then, at 11:05 a.m., the spouses of the world leaders gathered with Mrs. Obama in the high school's "Cabaret Room" for a group photo. Last one to arrive was Mrs. Sarkozy, who was escorted onto the stage. When she turned around and saw the photographers, she seemed surprised. "Oh my gosh! Hi!" she said to the assembled media. The group was asked to stand on a short stage for the photograph by the press pool. As flashbulbs and cameras clicked frantically, the women laughed and joked amongst themselves. "Tell us when we can stop," Mrs. Obama said, laughing, adding, "Cheese!"
After the photo opportunity, the media was escorted into the school's auditorium and seated in the back. The auditorium was filling up with excited students, while in the balcony, the spouses took their seats.
Pittsburgh Public Schools Superintendent Mark Roosevelt said he was honored to have the First Lady visit, noting that the students of Pittsburgh CAPA "have big dreams and they are displaying for you their commitment to doing all the hard work to reach those dreams." He also announced that the school was one of only two high schools in Pennsylvania to be named a national blue ribbon school, which which honors schools that are either academically superior, or have made dramatic gains in student achievement and helped close the gaps in achievement among minority and disadvantaged students..
At around 11:27, CAPA's principal Melissa Pearlman took the stage to introduce each summit spouse, who stood up in the balcony as their names were annouced, to cheers from about 250 students seated in the auditorium (not visible to your press pooler). When Ms. Pearlman added India at the end of the introductions -- she had inadvertently omitted it – the young audience erupted in cheers for India.
Then, at 11:30, Ms. Pearlman introduced Mrs. Obama, who was greeted with wild shrieks from the audience. She was wearing a boldly patterned purple and white silk dress from one of her favorite Chicago designers, Maria Cornejo of Zero, and a wide studded leather belt.
She greeted the students with a “How are you all doin’ today?” More screams and shrieks. Mrs. Obama went on to deliver a 12-minute speech about the importance of arts education, telling the students “you can literally say the whole world is watching you today,” and telling the spouses that they were about to see “some of the hottest up-and-coming young talents in the nation – that would be you.”
Mrs. Obama also thanked award winning composer Marvin Hamlisch and Carnegie Mellon University professor Gregory Lehane for their role in auditioning the students for today’s performance.
She praised the three artists performing with the students – Cellist Yo Yo Ma, country singer Trisha Yearwood and noted that Sara Bareilles’ songs – “Gravity” and “Love Song” have “gotten me through many a day, ach, I love her.”
She noted that “my good friend” Carla Sarkozy expressed amazement during their tour that “here in America, here you have people who can sing, while in France not often you get all those talents wrapped in one.”
“The arts aren't just a nice thing to do if you have a little time,” Mrs. Obama added. “It’s not just a hobby although it can be a very good hobby. [Barack and I] believe strongly the arts aresomehow an extra part of our national life, through.music, literature, drama and dance we tell the story of our past and express our hopes for the future.”
SEE CORRECTION OF ABOVE QUOTE
“ Listen to your parents and your teachers,” Mrs. Obama called out to the audience after she ended her speech.
While the program focused on the performing arts, 9th grader Miller Schulman of Squirrel Hill -- a student in the school's visual arts department --presented his artwork on the theme of "Pittsburgh Transforming," as a gift to the First Lady.
Musical highlights? Impossible to pick. The CAPA choral ensemble sang a song written expressly for the occasion, accompanied by Yo Yo Ma: “Welcome, welcome G20 summit/We’re glad you came and hope things will change…”
Yo Yo Ma's performance of "The Swan" from Saint-Saens' "Carnival of the Animals," accompanied by Jason Yoder, a CAPA junior, on percussion – whom Mr. Ma introduced as “my buddy” -- was another highlight. The students also seemed truly thrilled by Sarah Bareilles, who easily got the most raucous reception after her performance of her No. 1 hit “Love Song”
“I was doing jumping jacks in the back because I thought I was cold but I'm just really nervous,” Ms. Bareilles told the audience, to laughter.
The program ended at 12:15. All the participants came out on stage for their bows, earning a standing ovation. The guest artists agreed to stay for a “talkback.” (Your pooler was being ushered out with the rest of the media when she heard Yo Yo Ma ask the teenage audience -- "Are any of you ever moody?")
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.... Could I spend the day working (it was the Saturday shift) and end up covering a public meeting which reminded me, once again, about why I love Pittsburgh. For nearly two hours, nearly 100 people stood and told the mayor and a host of public officials about their love and need for Pittsburgh's public libraries... founded by Andrew Carnegie more than 100 years ago. Four of those libraries are slated for closure because of budget problems, but perhaps, given the public outcry, that will be averted. I was amazed at the cross-section of people in the audience and at the microphone... retired schoolteachers, young moms holding babies in their arms, philosophy students, nuns, a jazz trumpeter (who played "When the Saints Go Marching In" at the end of his comments, in tribute to those who had filed into St. Mary's Lyceum in Pittsburgh's Lawrenceville neighborhood to speak their minds), the young man from Holland, here getting his doctorate in neurological science, another young man who said he does "menial tasks" for a living, the 11-year old girl from Hazelwood who softly told the crowd she goes to her library after school to write her essays on the library's computer (she doesn't have one at home). Norman Rockwell should have painted the scene... but all I could do was write about it.
Mark Delavan played the title role and Andy says he could be America's next Wotan, as James Morris eases out of those Wagnerian roles.... As it was, Delavan seemed to be channeling Sherrill Milnes (I saw Milnes do Don Giovanni in a Met traveling producting in 1972-3 while at college in Boston. Have never forgotten it) Falstaff isn't a great singing role -- he kind of gets drowned out in the last act... but it's certainly good enough... and that ravishing last act as staged by the Pittsburgh Opera was all magical, moonlit masquerade... exquite music, children's voices.... "Chimes at Midnight." there's a wonderful video on Post-Gazette.com showing Delavan having his makeup put on for the role. It is hilarious... If you do nothing else today, click on this link, you will love this guy (especially when he goes into Clint Eastwood mode).
Mark Delavan played the title role and Andy says he could be America's next Wotan, as James Morris eases out of those Wagnerian roles.... As it was, Delavan seemed to be channeling Sherrill Milnes (I saw Milnes do Don Giovanni in a Met traveling producting in 1972-3 while at college in Boston. Have never forgotten it) Falstaff isn't a great singing role -- he kind of gets drowned out in the last act... but it's certainly good enough... and that ravishing last act as staged by the Pittsburgh Opera was all magical, moonlit masquerade... exquite music, children's voices.... "Chimes at Midnight." there's a wonderful video on Post-Gazette.com showing Delavan having his makeup put on for the role. It is hilarious... If you do nothing else today, click on this link, you will love this guy (especially when he goes into Clint Eastwood mode).
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